Reading to add more security cameras in hopes of deterring crime

In the wake of a violent two-month stretch that has included nine homicides and numerous nonfatal shootings, Reading officials are moving forward with expanding the security camera system.

Mayor Wally Scott said Wednesday that he's been pushing for more pole-mounted security cameras since he was elected three years ago. He said he has repeatedly requested that Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams fund camera purchases through the drug forfeiture fund.

Adams said Wednesday that he's all for more cameras and would pay for them with assets seized from drug dealers under the state drug forfeiture law. He added that cameras are significant tools that help investigators solve crimes.

But it hasn't happened, Adams said, because it was his understanding that installing additional cameras would do the city no good until its overall camera system is upgraded.

"We've talked to their experts and met with their expert and chief," Adams said. "The consultant indicated the infrastructure that's in place for the city camera system is not capable of having additional cameras hooked up."

Adams said his understanding is the needed upgrade would be expensive.

Scott acknowledged a system upgrade is needed, but said preliminary steps have been taken, and it's going to be cheaper than officials initially thought.

"The city is definitely going to upgrade (the system), and we have people willing to contribute and help us," he said.

The Reading Area Water Authority on Tuesday announced a $25,000 contribution to the police department specifically for camera expansion and to remove any technological issues that restrict expanding the system. The amount of the contribution was incorrect in Wednesday's Reading Eagle.

The authority in a news release said that its board believes it has a significant role in making the city a great place to live, work and invest, adding:

"The authority believes it needs to take an increased role in setting a distinct example of how a responsible government entity can work with private businesses to increase the quality of life in our service area. The board therefore is supporting taking a leadership role in the creation of an initiative to incentivize investment in cameras across the entire city."

Scott said that he's pushing for the project to be completed in the next month or so.

The water authority donation will be enough to complete the upgrade because of discounts or in-kind contributions from the business providing the services, he said.

Authority Executive Director Bill Murray acknowledged the funds for the camera system upgrade are derived from fees collected from its water customers. But he said the investment in security will thwart the exodus of businesses from the city, ultimately helping to keep rates down.

Scott said expanding the 46-camera system, which the city installed in two phases using a $1.7 million federal grant, will help solves crimes. The first batch of cameras was installed about a decade ago.

Deputies on the streets

Officials said deterring crime also requires boots on the ground.

To that end, the administration has secured an agreement from Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht to provide deputies to supplement the patrol officers, bolstering the law enforcement presence on the streets.

Deputy Police Chief Osborne Robinson III is developing a plan to incorporate the deputies into operations.

Robinson, who was recently hired, was a veteran detective and administrator in the Baltimore Police Department and has exactly the kind of experience the city needs on the command staff, Scott said.

"The deputy chief is fantastic," Scott said. "They're already working on a plan to do this together."

Weaknecht said deputies won't be making arrests and deputies will not be assigned to patrol a specific area of the city.

As deputies in marked cars are doing their jobs, such as serving civil processes, they'll be asked to drive through parts of the city and linger a bit, he said.

"One thing I made clear at the meeting yesterday (Tuesday) was if anything happens in the city, the deputies would ask the city police if they would do the arrest," he said, adding that his office wouldn't want to potentially interfere with an ongoing investigation.

"We're just the eyes and ears in the city," Weaknecht said. "We're just there to back them up and help them in any way we can."

Hiring more officers

The district attorney said that he supports the use of personnel from the sheriff's office but believes the city still needs to hire more police to deter shootings and other crimes.

Cameras and more officers are the ultimate remedy to the crime problem, Adams said.

As a deterrent, the city-operated security cameras aren't very effective by themselves because they are covertly placed, usually mounted to light poles, he said.

"I don't believe they actually deter crime," Adams said. "They help us solve crimes, and that's why I believe that additional officers are needed because I think they act as a deterrent to crime."

The city has about 160 police officers, but many of them are not on street patrol, officials said. The total includes the chief and captains, who don't normally go out on the street, and 30 investigators, including those in the vice and narcotics unit.

Capt. Andrew Winters of the patrol division said that the next round of hiring in January should bring the department to just a few short of the full staffing level of 168 funded positions allowed under Act 47, the state's program for financially distressed cities.

But most or all of the new hires won't be ready to patrol on their own until they complete the 22-week police academy and 15 weeks of field training, he said.

Scott said he's been stung by Adams' criticism that seems to point the finger at the mayor for the recent wave of violence.

Scott said that he's confused by this because Adams knows, or should know, the city can't increase the number of officers without amending the Act 47 agreement.

City Managing Director Osmer Deming said, "It's not like there's a pot of money sitting there that we can hire a bunch of police officers with."

When vacancies occur, he said, the city hires officers to fill those spots.

At a recent City Council budget meeting, police administration officials said that they have to contend with attrition as officers leave soon after completing three years of service for higher-paying, less stressful jobs with suburban departments.

Adams pointed out that his office and the county have made - and will continue to make - other, significant contributions from the drug forfeiture fund that have increased the city's ability to solve crime. For at least 10 years, Adams has entirely funded the city police vice squad.

Last week Adams and federal officials announced a state-of-the-art ballistics lab that is available to all county departments but will benefit Reading the most.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is sharing in the costs of the lab and inclusion in an nationwide ballistics evidence network.